Through the Lens of Memory:

Artist Statement:

Through the Lens of Memory is a reflection of my childhood moments that can be credited to the familiarity of the places I grew up in. This series as a whole shows an admiration for the passing of time. I will be moving across the country in June of next year and I want to leave with images that remind me of where I grew up and the memories I made in Nevada. These images are a goodbye to my childhood spent with my best friend, my twin sister, and a farewell to my home state.

Within this series I invite the viewer to observe my departure and to explore the wonderful complexity of memory. I expect the audience to view some of the images within this series and to feel a sense of nostalgia. I also expect, on the other hand, for some of the other images to not evoke a sense of reminiscence at all because they are a personal account that was specific to my adolescence. As a whole I expect this collection to make the audience feel as though they are peering into my childhood, that they are looking through the lens of my memory.

The colors, objects, and textures within each image are intentional details. Every detail acts as metaphors for the relationships as well as experiences that I created growing up. Color plays a very important role within this series. Bright colors can be seen a lot throughout this collection because they can show a reflection of the happy and simpler times that are commonly associated with nostalgia. For example, the use of purple and pink show the colors that my sister and I were most commonly associated with growing up. My twin was always known as the purple sister and I was known as the pink sister. We see these two colors and we think of when we were little girls.
I used a combination of compositions that display wide-angle shots that show a lot of negative space while others are more close-up. The wide-angle images are used to display the surroundings I grew up in while also still showing objects that are sentimental to me. The close-ups are used to spotlight specific details such as objects or gestures that hold an emotional weight to my upbringing. Each image was composed to convey the feeling of wanting to hold on just a little bit longer. 

With this series I have allowed myself the closure I need to move away comfortably. Each image shows a deep emotional interpretation on what it means to say goodbye. This series is not just a farewell, but also a look into what shaped me into the person I am today. These images are a celebration of change and the landscapes and possessions that will always represent my story.